I have one of the best nights of sleep I’ve had in a while. I have found myself not sleeping very well in my sleeping bag. I seem to sleep much more soundly with the duvet I bought yesterday.
I decide to drive onto Porto Covo today. I leave the campsite, which I realise is right next to a shopping centre. The shopping centre has an Ikea and a large sports store, which is not what I require. I drive on towards Setubal, which I hope will have a shopping centre also. I take the toll free roads, with the exception of the grand bridge that spans the river Rio Tejo (River Targus), which coasts just €1.10. The roads towards Setubal become surprising narrow and un-maintained. Eventually Setubal comes into sight, but it is not the modern developed town that I expect. Certain that I will not find the convenient shopping centre I am after, I decide to head on to the south, but first I must go west. The roads continue to be narrow and bad. The quickest route is to use the ferry across the estuary, but I am trying to avoid toll roads. After a short while I seem to not be going the right way, and meet a dead end. I try another road and start heading back on myself. I drive some more and my satellite navigation unit takes me around in a circle. Frustrated I go back on myself. At a junction, that I remember from before, I realise that I took the wrong turning previously. I continue down the correct road this time, but it is still of very poor quality. Eventually I emerge at the right place, and onto the better N5 road. Not surprisingly this road isn’t very good either. At last it is better, and I can cruise at a good speed. I continue south for several hours. It rains fairly heavily, which is welcome as it washes the salty deposits from the sea off of the van.
Eventually I get to Sines, which I have read is not very nice. There are chemical and petrochemical plants everywhere. The smell is bad, and at first I think there had been a diesel spill on the road, but then realise it is the vapour from the chemical factories. I drive a little further and see a sign for Porto Covo, and follow the road. It turns out this is the scenic route, which is not a very good road, but I see some good locations, with some “secret spot” type tracks that disappear to the sea. I drive past a couple of free camping type spots in the dunes, where there are a few motorhomes, and then see a larger spot with about 6 motorhomes in. I pull in and park up. I see a hand wave from within a UK motorhome, to which I reply with my own wave. I decide to stay here for the rest of the day, and venture into the town tomorrow for some basic supplies, and a look around. I pull up next to a German motorhome, so that I face into the wind at a better angle, as this reduces the rocking of the van in high winds. It is quite windy, and very overcast, but is has stopped raining, except for the occasional shower. I notice that the German motorhome has a wind generator, and I am jealous and inquisitive.
I have become quite interested in motorhome energy, especially since my solar panel investment, which has ridden securely wrapped in my large blanket today. I later check the solar panel with my multimeter, and it is outputting 8 volts just standing in the back of the van barely facing a window. The weather will have to improve greatly before I can fit the panel, and will therefore be a cumbersome passenger in the back for a few days.
I watch some movies in the afternoon, play guitar, and learn some Portuguese.
